North Korea' s neighbor of Japan is growing more alarmed by Pyongyang' s advancing nuclear program, especially after a North Korean missile flew
North Korea’s neighbor of Japan is growing more alarmed by Pyongyang’s advancing nuclear program, especially after a North Korean missile flew over the Japanese island of Hokkaido last week. It’s led many residents to rethink the threat, even though they acknowledge they’re largely powerless in this high-stakes geopolitical tussle.
Millions of residents in northern Japan got an early morning wake-up call last Tuesday, with a government text message just after 6 a.m. with a message saying North Korea fired a missile that would pass through the skies.
“Missile alert, Missle alert, ” the warning began. The official instructions that followed said to take cover underground or in a strong building.
Days later, in small towns in Hokkaido, the alert went off again as part of a municipally organized evacuation drill, so residents can feel more prepared should a missile fly by again.
Locals — mostly retirees — joined students at Maple Tree Elementary, where classes of children as young as 5 were guided by their teachers into the designated evacuation spot — the school gym.
“This was just a drill, ” Principal Makoto Takahashi says. “You all did a good job. In the event of an actual missile situation, this would all happen quickly so make sure you stay calm and move to this location.”
Similar air raid practices are happening across this island nation as part of Japan’s civil defense.
